Feed the City

"Food Production In Suburbia,The Glebelands-Unicorn Model

Inspired by both customer demand and the lower energy world upon us we have been producing crops for local and immediate consumption. We drew upon Elliot Coleman, Joy Larkcom and Sekem (in Egypt) amongst others to show what can be done in northern England. Glebelands began in 2001 producing high value leafy and salad crops for immediate sale at Unicorn Grocery Ltd 2 miles away. Both ventures use co-operative structures as well as close collaboration, and proved to be pioneering.

Glebelands has developed expertise on its 3 acres in seasonal extension using crop barrier protection and seasonal import substitution such as our Winter leaves instead of Spanish iceburgs. We are proud of the tiny carbon footprint of the production, an academic study suggesting that 100 times more energy is required for the Spanish Lettuce. Use of green manure crops and onsite composting of Unicorn waste further boosting efficiency.

While the UK is drowning in words on local food and Transition Meetings we see very little food being produced for local consumption commercially and little activity aquiring land around settlements. Ownership of and access to land are just beginning to become very important. The Farming Press(despite their conservative instincts) is the sector that appears most aware of global population implications.

A focus on nutrients rather than kg produced per acre would better prepare us all for the end of cheap nitrate fertiliser. We all need to come to terms with the return of market gardening,widescale usage of polytunnels,human sewage use and much reduced private car access.

With such density of UK population, time is tight.

Adam York was a founding member at both Glebelands and Unicorn.

www.glebelandsmarketgarden.co.uk/andysarticle.html
www.unicorn-grocery.co.uk/glebelands_model.php